China travel · 支付
Paying in China: what to say at the counter
Mobile payment first, card where the logo is, cash as the backup. The lines below get you through the counter without guessing.
Written October 20, 2026. This page uses the government guide updated 11 April 2024 as historical context. The current app or card issuer controls the limit that applies at payment.
Paying in China is less about which app is fashionable and more about having two ways to pay and the words to ask. A visitor can usually link an international card to Alipay or WeChat Pay, use the card directly where the network logo is displayed, or pay cash. The failure mode is assuming every counter takes every method.
The Chinese government's payment guide, updated on 11 April 2024, describes the options in one place: mobile payment through Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay; bank cards where the logos are displayed; and cash at banks, exchange counters, and ATMs. The same guide says foreign users can link international credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard.
What the 2024 guide says
Read the figures below as the 2024 version. The number that applies at checkout is the one your wallet or card issuer shows.
The guide says the single transaction limit for overseas visitors using mobile payment was raised from $1,000 to $5,000, and the annual cumulative cap from $10,000 to $50,000. It also says no ID information is required for transactions under a certain amount. These are historical figures reported in April 2024, not verified current allowances for your wallet or card. Check current limits and verification requirements in the app before relying on them.
The same government guide reports a 2024 circular, jointly issued by several departments including the People's Bank of China, saying domestic and overseas bank cards should be accepted at three-star and above tourist hotels, 5A and 4A national tourist attractions, national and provincial tourist resorts, and national tourism and leisure districts. If a hotel or attraction in one of those categories refuses a card, ask for the manager and show the guide. Ask the merchant which payment methods it can process before ordering, and retain a backup.
The date matters. A 2024 limit can change. Before you fly, open the app you plan to use and check the current card support, fee, and limit. The guide is a map, not a live account balance.
The lines for the counter
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 可以刷卡吗？ | kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? | Can I pay by card? | Before you order or get in the car |
| 可以微信支付吗？ | kěyǐ Wēixìn zhīfù ma? | Can I pay with WeChat Pay? | When you see a QR code at the counter |
| 可以用支付宝吗？ | kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma? | Can I use Alipay? | When the shop displays an Alipay code |
| 我付现金。 | wǒ fù xiànjīn. | I will pay cash. | When the card or app does not work |
| 多少钱？ | duōshao qián? | How much is it? | Before you hand over anything |
| 太贵了。 | tài guì le. | That is too expensive. | A market stall, not a supermarket |
| 可以便宜一点吗？ | kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma? | Can it be a little cheaper? | A market where bargaining is normal |
| 麻烦找一下零钱。 | máfan zhǎo yíxià língqián. | Could I have my change, please? | When you pay cash |
| 请给我收据。 | qǐng gěi wǒ shōujù. | Please give me a receipt. | A simple proof of payment |
| 请给我发票。 | qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào. | Please give me a formal invoice. | Expense claims; not every small shop can issue one |
| 可以扫码吗？ | kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma? | Can I scan the code? | When you want to pay by phone |
| 附近有 ATM 吗？ | fùjìn yǒu ATM ma? | Is there an ATM nearby? | When you need cash |
A counter exchange
You finish a meal and want to pay by phone. You ask: 你好，可以扫码吗？ (Nǐ hǎo, kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma? Hello, can I scan the code?) The server points at the QR code on the table. You pay, then say: 谢谢，请给我收据。 (Xièxie, qǐng gěi wǒ shōujù. Thank you, please give me a receipt.)
If the app fails, do not keep tapping the screen while a queue forms. Say: 我付现金。 (Wǒ fù xiànjīn. I will pay cash.) Show the notes you have and let the server take the amount. If you need change, say: 麻烦找一下零钱。 (Máfan zhǎo yíxià língqián. Could I have my change, please?)
If you cannot say it
Point to the card terminal or the QR code. Show the amount on your phone calculator. Open the payment app and let the cashier look at the screen. Show the amount or payment confirmation needed for the transaction. The spoken line is faster, but a screen is a valid backup.
At a hotel, ask the front desk to write the Chinese for "card" or "cash" on a piece of paper, or to call the place you are going. The front desk is also the best place to ask whether the hotel accepts foreign cards before you rely on one.
Small habits that prevent a scene
Carry a small amount of cash even if you plan to use your phone. Keep a few smaller notes for places that cannot make change. Ask the price before you hand over a large note. Keep the receipt until you leave the counter. And check the payment app before you leave the hotel, not at the front of a queue.
If you are going to a train station or a taxi next, the trains and taxis page has the lines for tickets and destinations. If you are going to a restaurant, the food page has the menu words and the allergy lines.
The ten-line plan and the seven-day schedule are on China travel phrases.
Questions that still sit on the table
How do tourists pay in China?
Visitors can prepare mobile payment through a supported wallet, a supported bank card, and RMB cash. Bank cards work where the card-network logos are displayed, and cash remains a backup. The Chinese government's payment guide says foreign users can link international credit cards including Visa and Mastercard.
Can I use a foreign credit card in China?
You can link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay, and you can use the card directly at merchants that display the card-network logo. The 2024 government guide says bank cards should be accepted at three-star and above tourist hotels, 5A and 4A attractions, and major tourism districts. Ask the merchant which payment methods work before ordering.
How much can I pay with mobile payment in China?
The cited April 2024 guide reports a USD 5,000 single-transaction figure and a USD 50,000 annual cumulative figure. Those are historical statements, not verified current limits on your account. Open your chosen wallet to check current limits, card support, fees, and verification requirements. Contact its support before relying on a large payment.
Should I carry cash in China?
Yes, as a backup. The official guide describes cash as one of the payment options and says cash acceptance is being expanded in transport, shopping, dining, and entertainment. Carry a small amount of RMB and keep a few smaller notes for places that cannot make change.
How do I ask for a receipt in Chinese?
Say 请给我收据 (qǐng gěi wǒ shōujù) for a receipt, or 请给我发票 (qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào) for a formal invoice. The second is the one used for expenses; not every small shop can issue it.
Sources
- The State Council of China, “Payment service guide for overseas visitors to China”, updated 11 April 2024, read 20 October 2026.
Version 1. Recheck when the payment guide or app limits change, or every six months.